Continues Indian innovation with iEGR technology
Ashok Leyland (AL) demonstrated its BS-IV-readiness by showcasing its complete range of future-ready products based on the Intelligent Exhaust Gas Recirculation (iEGR) technology and industry-leading services at its annual Global Conference 2017 held in Chennai recently. With the iEGR technology as the highlight, the company displayed a mix of over 30 innovative products and services, featuring trucks, buses, light commercial vehicles (LCVs), simulators, quick service bikes and gensets.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Vinod Dasari, Managing Director, Ashok Leyland, said: “Ashok Leyland has many innovative class-leading firsts to its credit through the years. This showcase of the iEGR technology across our product range bears further testimony to our capability to roll out technology-led future-ready products. We are truly proud to showcase our vehicles which are a perfect example of Indian innovation at its best. More so this indigenous technology will help us deliver on our brand promise of ‘Aapki Jeet, Hamari Jeet’ in multiple ways. For our customers it will mean ease of use and better cost efficiencies. For the environment it will mean more efficient fuel combustion and improved emissions. The indigenous development of the iEGR technology will also mean faster time to market and minimal cost of implementation. We will emerge as the only OEM in India to have achieved this.”
Introducing iEGR
iEGR is a simple yet innovative solution to achieve the desired results in order to meet the BS-IV norms. According to AL, the technology is not only better suited to Indian conditions compared to the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) technology (based on European technology) but will also prove to be highly cost-effective, easy to operate and hassle-free to maintain, all of which will benefit the customer, resulting in better margins compared to products by OEMs which are based on the SCR technology.
With the iEGR technology as the highlight, AL displayed a mix of over 30 innovative products and services, featuring trucks, buses, light commercial vehicles (LCVs), simulators, quick service bikes and gensets at the massive one-of-its-kind exhibition area.
Taking the brand promise of ‘Aapki Jeet, Hamari Jeet’ further, the company has, in recent years, expanded its network rapidly to cater to the growing number of customers. It has 1,000 touch-points with an additional 5,000 outlets for Leyparts, the genuine spare parts brand. With a service centre at every 75 km on all major highways, AL delivers its ‘Tatkaal’ promise of reaching customers within four hours and getting the vehicle back on road within 48 hours.
AL also used the platform, which drew customers from across the country in huge numbers, to demonstrate and talk about a slew of its initiatives and programs which have redefined the aftermarket business in the CV industry.
Add-on service packages: Packages like Annual Maintenance Contract, Extended Warranty Package and ALCOVER aim at giving peace of mind for the customers. Comprehensive cover, pan-India support, genuine parts, etc., at reasonable cost help in better uptime and profitability
Cabin Repair Facility: First of its kind service in the CV industry assuring quality and quicker returns for dealers
Express Bay: Ensures hassle-free service with repair time assurance to the customer. For dealers this helps in better productivity, efficiency and utilization
Fully Built Vehicle System: The ideal repair centre for fully-built vehicles through Ashok Leyland authorised dealers
KNOW: Knowledge On Wheels is a unique initiative which provides on-site training to channel partners and others. Built on an eComet or a Boss truck, this classroom on wheels is fully equipped with all the amenities and features to make learning easy and accessible.
Workshop Automation: Ashok Leyland’s cutting-edge automated workshops ensure minimal repair time, improved labour productivity, higher inventory turnover and consistent service experience
Accident care call centre: 24×7 call centre that provides complete accident care for Ashok Leyland vehicles
Quick Service: Innovative service idea where a mechanic is dispatched on a two-wheeler as soon as a call is made after a breakdown resulting in quicker resolution of the problem
Eas-E-Pay: It is a one-stop solution for quick and secured payments anywhere any time
SPARK: Spare Parts Accelerated Reforms Kick-off is a program where overall supply-chain is made more effective, resulting in increased competitiveness and multifold growth in revenues
Samriddhi: Recognizing the potential, commitment and contribution of the workshop employees, this program aims at bringing competitiveness in the field of service
KAM Cell: Currently 429 KAM customers are enrolled pan-India. A dedicated team at the head office ensures the best and fastest resolution to any problems and also helps in fleet updation.
Personal accident insurance policy: A first in the industry where all workshop employees are covered on and off duty without any extra cost
Mobile Wheel Alignment Facility: An eComet or a Boss which can go on site of a breakdown for immediate resolution and better uptime.
AL’s M&HCV market share swells to 32.4%
Ashok Leyland has been marching towards its vision of being among the global top 10 in M&HCV trucks and top five in buses. According to last year’s reports, it was ranked No.12 in trucks and No.4 in buses globally. FY17 has been another excellent year for the CV-maker, with its M&HCV market share going up from 24 per cent a few years ago to 32.4 per cent, thanks to good growth across regions and segments. While in the bus segment the company had exited some STU businesses due to low profit margins, its total revenue in the aftermarket space grew by 31 per cent, spare parts share swelling by 30 per cent and the number of retail parts stores going up from 150 to 250 outlets, all contributing to a very successful financial year.
FY17 also saw AL launch several new and innovative products. Sharing details about the company’s performance during the year, Mr. Dasari observed: “We have already sold 1,200 Captain vehicles. The Guru was launched in January, and we have already sold 200 of them in the first couple of months. The Sunshine won the School Bus of the Year Award and we are very proud to have sold 300 of them already. This is the only bus that meets the frontal crash requirement required for trucks and also the only bus that meets the roll-over compliance. While the Circuit was the first electric vehicle launched in the country, we also launched the Oyster, the safest school bus in the Middle East, 200 of which are running in Saudi Arabia. Apart from new product launches, we also organized massive tipper melas which attracted more than 2,500 customers. When the tipper market grew by 30%, we grew by 50%.”
Despite having just a single product in the LCV segment, the company continues to hold a market share of 15 per cent in the category. “We will be launching one new LCV every quarter and are targeting quadrupling the number of vehicles in the next few years. We have also set a target for the LCV dealers that for every two vehicles sold in the domestic market, we need to sell one in the international market”, he added.
Backing up sales with unmatched service support, a key differentiator in the market, AL has 100 per cent market with Rivigo, one of the largest and fastest-growing logistics firms in the country. The OEM continues to increase its service network and currently has 2,678 outlets or touch-points which have enabled it achieve 96 per cent restoration of vehicles in less than 48 hours during breakdowns. AL’s Power Solutions business has also done very well during the year, recording the first-ever export of engines designed, developed and manufactured in India directly to the US.
Talking about the company’s performance in the Defence segment, the MD revealed that AL has sold its first armored BS-IV vehicle recently. The company is now geared up to compete for around 25-30 per cent of the Defence’s vehicle requirements and has put up a new facility in Ennore that employs 150 people working not just for the domestic market but also for global markets. Mr. Dasari proudly shared that almost 95 per cent of the UN peacekeeping effort in Africa currently happens through AL vehicles.
Overall, though FY17 wasn’t the brightest of years for the Indian CV sector, AL has once again stood by the saying ‘when the going gets tough, the tough gets going’, putting up a commendable performance during the year.